About nuclear power in Japan...
Energy is the "life blood" of any economy, but for Japan, this truism takes on added importance. Just a few simple facts should help to make it clear that Japan is poor in natural resources, specifically sources of energy, which are so vital to a healthy, modern economy:
Japan must import over 80% of all primary energy needs
Japan obtains only 0.3% of its crude oil supply from domestic sources
Japan has very few domestic sources of coal, natural gas, or uranium
Despite these obstacles, Japan has built its economy into the second largest in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2002 of over $4.8 trillion. Particularly since the two oil crises of the 1970s, the way that Japan has reduced its reliance on crude oil and overcome its lack of energy security is by turning to a diverse mixture of energy, of which nuclear power plays a central role. Japan's electric utilities are actively pursuing a "closed" nuclear fuel cycle, of which one key feature is the utilization of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in commercial nuclear reactors. Nuclear fuel cycle technologies have the potential to improve further on these attributes, and to permit the benefits of nuclear power generation to be enjoyed for a longer period of time. Technology for reprocessing spent fuel, rather than directly disposing of it, and recovering plutonium and uranium for use as fuel, require facilities enabling nuclear material control as well as safety control, in light of the nature of such technology, which is to chemically treat material with high radioactivity and separate plutonium and other elements, necessitating, therefore, a great deal of facility investment. On the other had, such technology economizes on uranium resources and improves supply stability. It is, therefore, appropriate to basically reprocess spend fuel and make effective use of plutonium, uranium and other elements, while securing safety and nuclear non-proliferation. Taking economic efficiency into account, Japan should make the reprocessing of spent fuel and the use of recovered plutonium and uranium its basic policy, considering the geographical and resource conditions of the country.
2007-02-07 05:51:03
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answer #1
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answered by nra_man58 3
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The Japanese were working to increase the availability of nuclear power in 1985. Although Japan was a late starter in this field, it finally imported technology from the United States and obtained uranium from Canada, France, South Africa, and Australia. By 1991 the country had 42 nuclear reactors in operation, with a total generating capacity of approximately 33 million kilowatts. The ratio of nuclear power generation to total electricity production increased from 2% in 1973 to 23.6% in 1990.
During the 1980s, Japan's nuclear power program was strongly opposed by environmental groups, particularly after the Three Mile Island accident in the United States. Other problems for the program were the rising costs of nuclear reactors and fuel, the huge investments necessary for fuel enrichment and reprocessing plants, reactor failures, and nuclear waste disposal. Nevertheless, Japan continued to build nuclear power plants. Of alternative energy sources, Japan has effectively exploited only geothermal energy. The country had six geothermal power stations with a combined capacity of 133,000 kilowatts in 1989.
2007-02-07 06:00:48
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answer #2
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answered by FutureRadiologist14 3
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There at the instant are not any "secure" nuclear vegetation. all of them are "injuries waiting to take place", via fact as quickly as cooling of the gas rods stops, meltdown starts off. that's for specific to take place, quicker or later, via fact, radioactivity is unstoppable, on a similar time as a cooling device demands capability, all of the time. IOW, nuclear vegetation at the instant are not fail-secure. to be certain this is going to take place, quicker or later, the political employer desires to have the final notice. They be conscious of. sh.t yet they think of that they might boss around even the guidelines of nature. they're all a gaggle of criminals getting away with homicide. TEPCO, the administrative of the Fukushima plant, has a nicely documented history of ignoring safety recomendations from the IAEA. as nicely, the jap government would not genuine police and regulate the capability marketplace. So, your unhappiness is the end results of your lack of know-how. Like many others, you have been made to have faith that the jap would desire to stroll on water. some distance from it. .
2016-12-17 04:37:22
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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